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**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:32 PM

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**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:32 PM

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**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:33 PM

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**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:37 PM

Panzer Ausbildungsverbände ‘Thüringen’ was ordered formed on 23.April 1945 using several Lehrtruppe components from Panzertruppenschule Bergen and was to be commanded by Generalmajor Oskar Munzel, the commanding officer in charge of Panzertruppenschule Bergen. The unit was assembled from a variety of Wehrmacht units including the components from Panzertruppenschule Bergen shown in bold below (information provided by Martin Block):

Führungsstab (formed by Pz.Tr.Schule Bergen)
2 Pz.Gren.Ausb.Rgt.Stäbe: 1 each to be formed by Pz.Gren.Lehrgang W.K. XI by Kdr. d. Pz.Tr. IX
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 1 (W.K. IX)
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 15 (W.K. IX)
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 59 (W.K. IX)
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 71 (W.K. IX) with regimental support companies (I.G.-, Pi.Kpn.)
1 Pz.Ausb.Rgt.Stab (to be formed by Pz.Tr.Schule Bergen (W.K. XI))
Pz.Lehr-Abt. Bergen (W.K. XI)
Pz.Ausb.Abt. 1 (W.K. IX)
Pz.Ausb.Abt. 300 (W.K. IX)
Pz.Aufkl.Lehr-Kp. Bergen (W.K. IX)
Pz.Aufkl.Schiess-Lehr-Kp. Putlos (W.K. X)
1 Fla-Kp. was to be supplied later from Pz.Fla-Ers.Abt. 204

During the following days some additional units were added:
Feld-Uffz.Schule Wildflecken
Pz.Jg.Ers.Abt. 9
Scharfschützen-Lehrgang Kdr. d. Pz.Tr. IX
1/2 Pz.Nachr.Ers.u.Ausb.Abt. 81 (W.K. IX)

It could just be coincidence, but I strongly feel due to the fact that Behrens was issued self-propelled crewmember uniforms the same day elements of Panzertruppenschule Bergen had been ordered to form Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Thüringen’ that it is highly likely Behrens was in fact still stationed at Panzertruppen-Schule Bergen and was part of the personnel from the school mobilized to form the Panzer elements of Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Thuringen.’

Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Thuringen’ was assembled over the course of the following few days and according to Martin Block, as of 31.March 1945, the 'Verbindungsstab Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Tr. beim Ob.West' reported the composition and status of Pz.Ausb.Verb. 'Thüringen' as:

Pz.Ausb.Abt. 300
1 Abt.Stab
1 Pz.Kp. [1 Pz. III, 7 Pz. (Fkl)*]
1 Begleit-Kp.
Strengthl: 132 men
(*Note: In another report dated 29.3.1945 the number of tanks was given a little more specific as 2 Pz.V, 1 Pz. IV, 3 StuG)

H.Pz.Gren.Feld-Ausb.Schule Wildflecken
1 Abt.Stab
1 Pz.Kp. [1 Pz. V, 2 Pz. IV, 4 StuG, 6 Jagdpz. 38*]
1 SPW-Kp. [12 SPW, 36 MG]
2 Radfahr-Schwadronen [47 MG, 2 m.Gr.W., 2 s.Gr.W.]
1 schw.Kp. [3 7,5 cm Pak, 2 le.I.G., 2 s.I.G., 2 2cm Fla-Vierl.]
Strength: unknown
(*Note: Another report dated 27.3.1945 listed a Jagdpz.Kp. [5 StuG, 7 Jagdpz. 38] instead of the Pz.Kp.)

Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 1
1 Btl.Stab
3 Pz.Gren.Kpn. [39 MG, 2 m.Gr.W.]
Strength: 687 men

Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 15
3 Pz.Gren.Kpn. [27 MG, 2 m.Gr.W.]
Strength: 775 men

Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 59
1 Btl.Stab
3 Pz.Gren.Kpn. [12 MG, 16 Pz.Schreck, 2 m.Gr.W.]
Strength: 801 men

Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl. 71
2 Pz.Gren.Kpn. [armament unknown]
Strength: unknown

Flak-Brig. 508
Organisation unknown
Available weapons: 18 Drillings-Fla
Strength: 20 men (?? Not many for manning 18 guns, could be a typo.)

Pz.Pi.Ausb.Kp. 29
Armament and strength unknown

Oddly, as of 31.March 1945 the Panzer elements from Panzertruppenschule Bergen are missing from the Gliederung of Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Thuringen’ – but why?

The answer is rather interesting… On 29./30.March 1945, Panzer components from Panzertruppenschule Bergen, on their way to join Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Thuringen’ actually wound up being incorporated into a completely different unit: Panzer Ausbildungsverbände Franken. Written/posted by Hans Weber and taken from multiple discussions on Feldgrau.com and Axis History forum, the following paragraphs provide detailed information on how these events transpired:

“During these two days (29 and 30 March), General von Obstfelder was trying to piece together an armored force to counterattack into the 4th Armored Division flank. As a nucleus he had a new unit, Panzer Ausb.Verband Thüringen, a training group with a tank battalion, an assault gun battalion, and a panzer grenadier regiment. He hoped to join that force with the reconnaissance battalion of the 11th Panzer Division, only part of the division to reach the 7th Army after leaving Army Group B. He counted too on some forty new tanks scheduled to arrive momentarily by rail. He would never see the tanks.” Charles B. McDonald, Last Offensive."

The tanks from Panzertruppenschule Bergen which General von Obstfelder was waiting on would never join Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Thüringen; They were instead absorbed by another unit, Pz.Ausb.Verb.‘Franken.’ The following text goes into more detail on how this happened:

“Oskar Munzel describes himself as the commander of the Pz. Truppen Schule Bergen who just returned from duty from the Eastern Front. He tells about being ordered by phone on the 25.03.45 to take over a tank training formation "Thüringen", taking the necessary staff officers from any school and to report to Heeresgruppe G. The Ausbildungseinheiten envisaged to be used were thought to assemble near the front by roads or rail. He was promised elements of his training school, i.e. forty tanks. He goes on about his assignment being finally under the 7. Armee. On the evening of the 28th March 45 he was ordered to assemble all units West of Bad Soden and secure the front to the West. “

“One of the detraining centers was Bad Hersfeld, whereto he even dispatched two officers of his staff. He was promised to get forty tanks (?) of his own school as main armored component. Munzel later told the US (MS B 360) that these tanks never made it. This is confirmed by a note (Besprechungspunkte für den Stab Heick) dated 3rd April: The unit detrained at Bad Hersfeld and was engaged in the sector Rotenburg a.F./Hersfeld by AK LXVII (Hahm).“

“Munzel's training group form the Pz.Truppenschule Bergen could not reach him in time. Later it arrived at Hersfeld and was temporarily committed by another HQ. This was only a part of the Lehrtruppen of Panzertruppenschule Bergen, namely 20 Sturmgeschütze from Pz Jg Lehr Abteilung which were unloaded at Rotenburg/Fulda and put under command of 26. VGD (Generalmajor Kokott).”

“As an engagement with Pz. Ausb. Verb. Thüringen was no longer possible, it was envisaged to make it part of Pz. Ausb. Verb. Franken, then at Eisenach, some 70km to the east. In due course, another note dated 2nd April lists it as subordinated to Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Franken.’ The name used was Pz.Lehr Div (corrected by hand to Abt.) Fallingbostel, but I think there is no doubt it’s the outfit from Bergen, stationed at the camp Fallingbostel. The unit then had a strength of 2 Pz IV, 1 Pz. V and 18 StuG. I also think that it is identical with the outfit mentioned by U. Saft, Krieg in der Heimat as PzJgLehrAbt. 130, coming from Fallingbostel, Pz.Trp.Schule Bergen with 20 StuG III and detraining at Rotenburg/Fulda, and then being subordinated to 26 VGD (Gen.Maj, Kokott) and Pz.Abt.44.”

**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:38 PM

So, the tanks in the armored component coming from Panzertruppenschule Bergen (which consisted of two Panzer IV, one Panther and 18 StuGs) on its way to join the rest of Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Thüringen’ was unloaded at a detraining center in Bad Hersfeld where it was engaged just a few kilometers north, in Rotenburg, after which it was incorporated into Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Franken’ (which then had four Hetzers, one StuG.III and one Panzer III) located in Eisenach, about 70km to the east. Pz.Ausb.Verb.‘Franken’ was then attached to the 26.VGD under the LXVII. A.K. for the duration of the war.

The armored component from Panzertruppenschule Bergen – the very unit I believe Bruno Behrens was with – would never reach the unit it was originally intended for - Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Thüringen’ - but instead ended the war fighting as part of Pz.Ausb.Verb.‘Franken.’

Below is the Gliederung of Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Franken’ which confirms that as of 29.March 1945 the “missing” Panzer components from Panzertruppenschule Bergen were in fact listed as being with Pz.Ausb.Verb. ‘Franken’

Gliederung des Panzer-Ausbildungs-Verbandes "Franken": Stand 29.03.1945
Commander: Oberst Koppenburg

Pz.Gren.Ausb.Reg.1
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl.104
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl.115

Pz.Gren.Ausb.Reg.2
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl.119
Pz.Gren.Ausb.Btl.215
Pz.Ausb.Reg."Franken"
Pz.Ausb.Abt.1,

T.Pz.Aufkl.Ausb.Abt.9
Pz.Pi.Ausb.Btl.19
T.Pz.Nachr.Ausb.Abt.26

Pz.Lehr.Abt."Bergen" (2 Pz.IV, 19 Stug III, 1 Pz.III, 1 Pz.V, 4, Jgd.Pz.38(t))

It could be yet another coincidence (and a huge one at that) but I find it rather remarkable that the vehicles en route to join Pz.Ausb.Verb.‘Thuringen’ which ultimately wound up being incorporated into Pz.Ausb.Verb.‘Franken’ were Panzer IVs, a Panther and StuGs all from the Panzer-Lehrtruppe at Panzertruppenschule Bergen, the unit I believe Behrens was with. Furthermore, any of these vehicles would fit into either the 2., 7., or 8., Lehrtruppe - the potential units shown on the 23.March 1945 Bekleidung sheet.

On 8.April 1945 Eisenach was taken by the US 89th Infantry Division and two days later, on 10.April 1945, Behrens was killed. Over the next 11 days Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Franken’ continued its retreat through the Harz mountains and into the Ruhr where the unit’s surviving personnel surrendered to the Americans on 21.April.

Without further documentation I can’t say for certain if Behrens was killed in action on 10.April or if this was the date on which he died due to an earlier wounding, but the date of his death and the location of his grave puts him extremely close to the vicinity where Panzer-Ausbildungs-Verbandes "Franken" was fighting – less than 60 miles, actually. There are no Lazarett entries for April of 1945 nor any other entry related to his death, so my guess is that he was killed in action in the vicinity of Eisenach on 10.April 1945 and his body transported to and burried in Nieder-Weisel, not far from where he fell.

While there aren’t any entries or any evidence to prove it, based on all of this I strongly believe that Bruno Behrens was killed fighting with Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Franken’ in/around the town of Eisenach during the first two weeks of April, 1945 and I feel that the following facts help form a very solid foundation on which to base the argument:

The 23.April 1945 entry for the self-propelled crew uniforms appears to read either 2., 7., or 8. “Pz.Lehr-Truppe”
The entry was made on the very same day Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Thüringen’ was ordered to be formed using components from Panzertruppenschule Bergen – the school I believe Behrens was still stationed at.
The vehicles in the armored component from Panzertruppenschule Bergen on its way to join Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Thüringen’ would have been found in any of the units that resemble the entry on the Bekleidung page, either the 2., 7., or 8. “Pz.Lehr-Truppe”
The armored component from Panzertruppenschule Bergen on its way to join Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Thüringen’ never made it to the intended unit, but instead was incorporated into Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Franken’ on 28./29 March 1945, confirmed by the fact that all of these vehicles appear on Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Franken’s’ Gliederung (dated 28.Mar.45)
Behrens’ remains were buried in Nieder-Weisel, not far from Eisenach where the unit had been fighting through 8.April 1945, two days before the date of Behrens’ death.

The answer will likely forever remain a mystery, however with the information available I believe there is enough to support the theory on how the last few weeks of Bruno Behrens’ life played out.

As you can see, the Führerschein and Soldbuch are both heavily stained with blood. The stain patterns match up exactly on both documents indicating that the Führerschein was kept tucked into the Soldbuch which was on Behrens the day he was fatally wounded. It’s a very interesting yet extremely somber grouping and when you read through the research you can’t help but feel sorry for Behrens and think that had he made it through 11 more days he would have survived the war and returned home to his family.

Here are three shots of a StuG.III reported to be from Pz.Ausb.Verb.'Franken"<style> </style>

Attached Files

**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:49 PM

Same StuG, this shot taken from the right:

Attached Files

Franken_StuGIII_01c.jpg (59.8 KB, 284 views)

**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:50 PM

And a second StuG.III also believed to be from the same unit:

Attached Files

Franken_StuGIII_02.jpg (158.7 KB, 283 views)

**Panzer Rob** · 05-21-2013, 08:51 PM

That’s it for now. I hope you all have enjoyed the presentation and I’d very much like to hear your opinions. I welcome any and all viewpoints – supporting or opposing – on whether or not you feel that based on the information Behrens was fighting with Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Franken’ at the time of his death. There are other possibilities - one of which is that he was part of the Stab of Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Thüringen’ that had already been assembled and was waiting for the Panzer component which never arrived, and was shortly after incorporated into the 2.Pz.Div – but IMHO I think that based on the info available and what we can go on, the strongest theory is that he wound up in Pz.Ausb.Verb.’Franken.’

Thanks,
Rob

**JUNGCO** · 05-22-2013, 07:50 AM

I always kind of hate not to know for certain but your presentation comes pretty close. I do love those beat up Soldbücher.
Jeff

**Panzer Rob** · 05-23-2013, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by JUNGCO View Post

I always kind of hate not to know for certain but your presentation comes pretty close. I do love those beat up Soldbücher.
Jeff

With the Behrens group, even though in the end I wasn't able to get definitive answers to all of my questions, the information I was able to uncover and what I was able to learn through the research project was by far the most rewarding takeaway. It's a rare occurrence that we will know all the details and be absolutely certain about all the entries, awards, etc. so in some cases pretty close is actually good enough

**12thPanzer** · 05-27-2013, 11:00 AM

Excellent research done on this one Rob, as usual. That's awesome that you were able to reunite the rest of the group too. Great job commemorating the more than interesting service of Behren. And also as per usual, thanks for taking the time to share it with us.

**Panzer Rob** · 06-05-2013, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by 12thPanzer View Post

Excellent research done on this one Rob, as usual. That's awesome that you were able to reunite the rest of the group too. Great job commemorating the more than interesting service of Behren. And also as per usual, thanks for taking the time to share it with us.

Thank you for the complements sir, and glad you enjoyed the thread

It was a very extensive, educational and enjoyable research project, and I was extremely happy that I was able to reunite the grouping. Now it's time to find this one a new home in an effort to make room for some recent additions

Thanks again!

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Panzerjäger group KIA 10.April'45, Pz.Jäg.(Stu.Gesch.)Abt.1361, Pz.Ausb.Verb.Franken

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